Concentrator.



Patented M... 19, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

JEItu-M Zcobm Rico L J. M. NICOL.

GONGENTRATOE. APPLIOATION npnn DEC. 22, 1909.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cO.,WASHlNuTON, D. c

J. M. NIGOL.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED D20. 22, 1909.

1,097,1 39; Patented May 19, 1914 2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

' indmTZE-f COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0.. \vAsmNn'roN, D. c.

JOHN MALCOLM NIGOL, OF MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

CONCENTRATOR.

oemsa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed December 22, 1909. Serial No. 53%,529.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN MALCOLM NIcoL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of Mill Valley, county of Marin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of concentrating metals by the wet process, and has for its object to provide an improved machine for concentrating ores and products of alluvial deposits, which shall facilitate the removal of concentrates from the pulp or pulp and sand, to increase the capacity of any given area of concentration, to enable particles that vary considerably in size to be concentrated on the same surface at the same time, to provide means in concentrators using riilles to catch the concentrates, for removing the concentrates from the rifiles independently of the forces agitating the pulp and settling the concentrates, and to provide novel means for separating and removing concentrates which vary considerably in size without loss of the finer concentrates,

In the present known methods, the 0011- centrates are either caused to move against a flow of the pulp as in belt machines, to be finally discharged at the upper end of the machines above the point at which the pulp is fed; or, in machines having rifiles, to cause the concentrates to move in a direction at right angles to the direction of flow of the pulp, in a series of intermittent movements produced by the forces which agitate the pulp for settling purposes, the forces causing removal being a function of said agitating forces.

In all machines of the belt type the removal of the concentrates is slow and imperfect owing to the fact that the zone of concentration is being continuously moved through a stream of new pulp which causes what is technically known as interference and as there are no riflies the velocity of the flow of the pulp and the rate of removal of the light sand is limited; and therefore, the capacity of any machine based on the above method of concentration is limited and particles which vary considerably in size cannot be concentrated in the same apparatus without serious interference.

In machines of the table type having riffies, the reciprocating movement which causes the settlement of the heavy particles also causes their travel and final removal from the zone of concentration; consequently, whenever the agitation necessary to settle the particles demands a certain kind and intensity of movement, while the movement necessary to produce travel and removal of the concentrates in the riflies requires to be of a different character and intensity of reciprocation, (a condition which frequently arises and is common to all modes of concentration) then it will be impossible to embody in any device of the table type having riflies a construction adequate to meet the requirements because the movements causing travel are a function of the,

movement causing settlement.

I accomplish my objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing of which Figure l is a plancview of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 an end elevation; Fig. 4:, a detail in section of my means for varying the height of the riflies; Fig. 5, a longitudinal elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, aplan view of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the ad justable bearings.

The same numeral of reference marks the same part throughout the various views.

In broad terms my invention consists in providing in a concentrator, a belt continuously movable substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of the material to be concentrated, flexible riiiies longitudinally disposed along the belt surface and traveling therewith and being flexibly attached thereto, means for varying the height of said rifi'ies as they travel through the conc'entrating zone, means for changing the slope of the belt transversely to the direction of its travel as it passes through the zone of concentration and means for varying the amount of said slope at difierent points of said zone.

Detailing the parts of my concentrator and explaining their nature and arrangements I have first to call attention to the belt 1 which is adapted to be moved continuously in a direction at right angles to the direction of flow of the concentrate. On the surface of said belt, I provide riflies, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, a plurality thereof being shown in the drawing. The said riftles extend longitudinally all around the belt and are made of flexible material. They are secured to the belt along their upper edge leaving the lower edge adapted to be raised by fingers inserted under them. I provide a plurality of guides extending along the zone of concentration and in proximity to every one of the rifiies only one such guide 7 being shown in the drawing however. These guides are attached to suspending mechanism which consists of the pipes 8, the supporting rings 9, the suspending screw 10, the foot 11, the plow 12, the guide 13. I provide vertical adjusting screws 14 for changing the slope of the whole belt transversely along with its supporting frame 15.

For moving the belt the drive rollers 16, 17, I8 and 19 are provided, and for varying the slope of the belt the guide rollers 20, 21, 22, 23, 24c, 25, 26 under which and under the drive rollers are placed adjustable bearings 27.

On the base frame 28 I provide a rocking frame 29 and I provide rocker arms 30 for rocking said frame.

Driving mechanism is shown in the reciprocating movement 31, the set of speedcones 32, the counter spring 33- and its support 34. The driving mechanism 35 for the belt is provided with speed cones 36 and I provide a main drive 37, feed box 38 and a feed-water system 39.

In operating my concentrator the belt is given a suitable slope laterally, the material to be concentrated being fed at the upper portion and charged with water. The belt which is an endless one is kept in continuous motion in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, carrying with it the flexible riflies which are elevated by the plows 12 and guides 13, the points of elevation and depression being distributed over the area of concentration wherever desired. For instance, the first rifile of the series may have its plow adjusted high at the upper left hand portion of the zone of concentration so that whenever" it is passing that point it will be raised while it gradually falls to a flat state as the riflie is drawn along by the belt lying completely flat on its way between the rollers underneath. The second riflie may be similarly elevated at a position somewhat to the right of the first rifiie, the third: riffle' may be elevated all along its area of concentration, the fourth riffie may be depressed at its initial position and raised as it moves toward the right and similarly with the fifth rifile, it being understood that the riffles are flexible and tend to lay flat on the belt where they are not raised by the plows. The frame being agitated by the aforesaid means independent of the means causing continuous movement of the belt causes the deposition of the concentrates and the various elevations and depressions of the flexible rifiles cause them to be retained in greater or less amounts at various places about the zone of concentration.

The rollers 20 and 26 inclusive are adjusted at their ends by the adjustable bearings 27 to elevate the belt as a whole in various places.

The basic principle of my improved method of concentration which is embodied in the machine described consists in continuously removing the concentrates in a direction substantially at right angles to the flow of the pulp without interference with the mechanical motion given to the pulp to cause agitation and to effect separation thereby. The zone of concentration is continually moving away from the zone of feed of the pulp and the removal of the concentrates is continuous and as rapid as may be desired and does not interfere with and is not in any way dependent on the movement for agitation to cause settlement. By the means described my device may be given any class, or direction of movement, desired to effect the most perfect settlement of the concentrates without interference, and therefore will be of a greater capacity. Furthermore, pulp consisting of grains varying considerably in size can be effectually concentrated without risk of interference or loss. The machine which I have invented to apply the above mentioned principle is susceptible of various modifications without departing materially from the above described mode of operation and I expressly reserve all such modifications that come within the scope of my claims.

Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus for separating materials of different specific gravity, comprising a substantially smooth flat belt transversely inclined and having longitudinal rifiles, each of said rifiies having a flat smooth plane inclined side joining the substantially flat plane of the belt at an obtuse angle and adapted to serve as a. dam at the feed portion, and means beyond the feed portion and toward the concentrates discharge end for gradually reducing the inclination of said riffie planes to a horizontal in advance of theconcentrates discharge end.

2. An apparatus for separating materials of difierent specific gravity, comprising a smooth and substantially flat belt transversely inclined and having smooth longitudinal rifrles, each of said riffles having a flat plane inclined side joining the plane of the belt at an obtuse angle and acting as a dam during its passage through the con'centrating zone, and means for reducing the damming inclination of the riflies relatively to the plane of the belt beyond the concentrating zone and in advance of the concentrates discharge end, thereby freeing the concentrates of liquid previously dammed by the riifles, substantially as set forth.

8. An apparatus for separating materials of different specific gravity, comprising a smooth and substantially flat belt transversely inclined and having smooth longitudinal rii'lles, each of said riffles having a flat plane inclined side joining the plane of the belt at an obtuse angle and acting as a dam during its passage through the concentrating zone, means for reducing the inclination and damming action of the riflies to zero relatively to the plane of the belt beyond the concentrating zone and in advance of the concentrates discharge end, and means for agitating the belt to assist in freeing the concentrates, at the zero reduction point, from the previously dammed liquid.

4. An apparatus for separating materials of different specific gravity comprising a belt transversely inclined and having flexible riflies disposed longitudinally thereof, each of said riflies having an inclined side joining the plane of the belt at an obtuse angle and adapted to serve as a dam at the feed portion, devices holding said flexible riflles at such angle during their passage through the concentrating zone and permitting gravity descent of the riflies upon the belt at points beyond said devices, and means for reducing the angle of the belt to a horizontal at the concentrates discharge end, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for separating materials of different specific gravity comprising a belt transversely inclined and having flexible riifles disposed longitudinally thereof, each of said riflles having an inclined side joining the plane of the belt at an obtuse angle and adapted to serve as a dam at the feed portion, longitudinally adjustable devices holding said riflies at such angle during their passage through the concentrating zone and permitting gravity descent of the riflies upon the belt at points beyond said devices, and means for reducing the angle of the belt to a horizontal at the concentrates discharge end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand this 28th day of June, A. D. 1909, in the presence of the tWo subscribed Witnesses.

JOHN MALCOLM NICOL.

Witnesses:

FRANK P. MEDINA, AMY MEDINA,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

